I'm hoping someone can shine some light on my recent experience. I had a lump on my forehead that the dermatologist removed last week. The initial thought was a lipoma. The pathology report came back as a reactive lymph node. Has anyone had this happen? They are sending it out for additional pathology, but at this point I'm concerned.
Any insight is appreciated.
Thank you, Kim
Hi Kim, We each a have upwards of 600 nodes in our bodies and occasionally they can occur in unexpected places. If the node/Lipoma appeared gradually then I wouldn't be concerned.
Neil
Thanks Neil. It came on rather suddenly last winter. At first I thought it was some sort of acne, but then had it looked at by one dermatologist who said it was a lipoma. It changed size enlarging and then shrinking, then became painful. That's when a second dermatologist said it did not look like a lipoma and removed it. I hope the additional work up shows that it's nothing serious.
Hi Kimi. You were correct to seek a second opinion. Lipomas do not shrink and enlarge but lymph nodes sure do especially when considered reactive. Because they are reacting to a stimulus they can vary in size depending on how stimulated they are. I wouldn’t be too concerned because the node certainly could have been reacting to acne or another superficial infection in the area. I have had similar experiences with my nodes with gingivitis from low platelets. My gums bleed and get sore and are superficially irritated causing my nodes to swell until mouthwash and time settle things down. My nodes then subsequently shrink until the gingivitis recurs. Good luck. Tony
Thanks Tony. I'm curious to read the additional pathology report.
I also want to add that enlarged lymph nodes anywhere on your head tend to be painful, there is nowhere to expand - just your skull and a thin layer of skin, no muscle. It's not the lymph node that is painful as such but it's caused by the pressure it creates. Hope it is going to be OK.
Yes, it was eventually painful! It sent shooting pains into my head. Hoping that will resolve once it is healed.
Yes, I had enlarged nodes at the back of my head and it was an excruciating pain and no painkillers touched it really.
That sounds awful. I'm so sorry!
I also had what was thought to be a lipoma removed from my lower arm about 3 inches above my wrist. It had been there slightly growing for about 2 years before removal and itched a lot as it no doubt was pressing on a nerve. The dermatologist who removed it said it was a benign lipoma but would send to pathology. She called me 3 weeks later to tell me the specimen had gone from lab to lab and finally ended up at a large hospital who diagnosed it as a lymph node with cll cells. I had had a surgery at this facility 4 years before where a similar growth had been removed from area near my vocal cords. I took the pathology report to my next oncology visit. Oncologist said there are no lymph nodes in the area it was removed. I have had cll for a very long time, diagnosed in 1998. Only treatment was chlorambucil and prednisone right after diagnosis. Nothing since but wbc rising.
What a strange outcome. Did the oncologist say not to worry about it?
He really didn’t know what to think about it but wanted a copy of the pathology report which I gave him. Seems to be the first time he has seen anything like that. My dermatologist also said she had never seen anything like it. It has healed nicely and will just be monitored. Just let’s me think that a long time cll patient can develop unusual symptoms.
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